EURATEX – The European Apparel and Textile Confederation has issued a joint statement with other European sector organizations in which it views the proposed €2 fee for the management of goods purchased from non-EU sellers through online platforms and imported directly into the European Union as a symbolic measure.
However, he warns that introducing this measure within the framework of the suspended negotiations on the Union Customs Code wastes valuable time, given that 12 million parcels currently enter the EU every day without adequate controls.
EURATEX points out that this isolated action is not enough to address the underlying problem: the constant flow of unsafe and non-compliant products reaching European consumers every day through digital platforms, with no one responsible for their safety.
According to the statement, "Such a low fee—much lower, for example, than the $100 recently introduced in the United States—will not curb this situation and risks becoming a mere tax to allow non-compliant products into the EU. It is unacceptable that €2 is the price to pay for putting the safety of consumers, including children, at risk. Furthermore, this fee would not allow customs authorities to conduct tests on all shipments, as such tests typically involve opening and, often, destroying the product, making final delivery impossible. Therefore, checks would still be largely limited to documentation."
The statement also denounces that this proposal fails to address the real underlying problem of consumer protection, as it allows non-compliant sellers to maintain a competitive advantage over European companies that do comply with strict regulatory standards. Responsible companies are being harmed by competitors who ignore EU rules and offer cheaper but less safe products.
According to EURATEX and the signatory entities, there is a serious risk that this fee will be used as a pretext to delay the adoption of necessary measures, such as the recognition of online marketplaces as economic operators, responsible when there is no agent within the EU.
To ensure consumer safety and strengthen business competitiveness, the European Union must go beyond superficial solutions. The real answer lies in closing the loopholes that allow platforms to act as intermediaries in the sale of dangerous products—such as baby toys, clothing, footwear, childcare products, household appliances, lighting products, and other high-risk items—without assuming liability.
EURATEX insists that digital platforms must be subject to greater due diligence obligations before allowing products to be marketed, and must assume legal liability when there is no identified operator within the EU. Only then will they be more rigorous in selecting their sellers.
While the proposal to assign liability to the suspected importer represents a positive step, it must be accompanied by effective sanctions and applied beyond the point of entry to ensure that no unresponsible products remain once they enter the European market.
EURATEX concludes that urgent and immediate action is required by the European Commission, Member States and Parliament to protect consumers and businesses in the Union.
Organizations signing the joint statement: